2006 PRIME MINISTER’S ENVIRONMENTALIST OF THE YEAR AWARD

Establishing a National Network of Places for Australia’s Endangered Wildlife- Australian Wildlife Conservancy, WA

2006 BANKSIA CLIMATE AWARD

National Green Power Accreditation Program- Department of Energy Utilities and Sustainability, NSW

More that 90% of Australia’s electricity currently comes from fossil fuel fired power stations, with around 10% coming from renewable sources. Energy use in Australia accounts for around 68% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions making it by far the largest contributor to our greenhouse gas emissions .

Since its inception in 1997, sales of Green Power through the National Green Power Accreditation Program have reduced greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation by around 2.75 million tonnes.

The program aims to drive investment in renewable energy in Australia, increasing the sustainability of Australia’s electricity supply. This involves raising awareness of, and ensuring consumer confidence in, accredited renewable energy products, and increasing their uptake. There are now over ¼ million households and businesses voluntarily participating in the Green Power program delivering a 17% upside on the Australian Government’s Mandatory Renewable Energy Target.

2006 BANKSIA ECO-INNOVATION AWARD

More that 90% of Australia’s electricity currently comes from fossil fuel fired power stations, with around 10% coming from renewable sources. Energy use in Australia accounts for around 68% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions making it by far the largest contributor to our greenhouse gas emissions .

Since its inception in 1997, sales of Green Power through the National Green Power Accreditation Program have reduced greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation by around 2.75 million tonnes.

The program aims to drive investment in renewable energy in Australia, increasing the sustainability of Australia’s electricity supply. This involves raising awareness of, and ensuring consumer confidence in, accredited renewable energy products, and increasing their uptake. There are now over ¼ million households and businesses voluntarily participating in the Green Power program delivering a 17% upside on the Australian Government’s Mandatory Renewable Energy Target.

2006 BANKSIA WATER AWARD

Water conservation is one of the most important issues facing Australia and the world and the Millmerran Power Project, located in S/W Queensland, is at the forefront of its industry in reducing its impact on water resources. Leading edge environmental innovations to protect surface water and groundwater resources have resulted in the saving of approximately 15 ML per day along with: • air cooling reducing water consumption by 90%; • utilising recycled water supplied from Wetalla Sewage Treatment Plant for; • no water taken from surface water or groundwater resources; • all run off water retained and reused on site, via a system of drainage channels and dams; and • fully enclosed conveyors over creeks reduced the risk of fugitive dust emissions and spillages into Back Creek. The $1.5 billion Project is an 840 Mw base-load power is among the most efficient power producers in Australia playing a vital role in supplying reliable, low-cost electricity to customers in Queensland and beyond.

2006 BANKSIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARD

This project demonstrates that tertiary sewage treatment using a relatively simple wetland system is an environmentally and economically sustainable solution for small communities throughout Australia. While there was some initial community concern with the wetland location adjacent to the township of Currie and in view of nearby residences, a motel and restaurant, the project has demonstrated that by integrating a passive system with the surrounding natural environment, these systems can enhance rather than detract from the aesthetics of an area. The Currie Sewage Treatment Wetlands, commissioned early this year, provide passive treatment of wastewater in a coastal dune setting. It has provided an innovative and sustainable solution to the treatment of wastewater for this small residential community and represent a technique which could potentially be applied throughout Australia. As well as contributing to the landscape aesthetic and habitat values of the environment they provide an opportunity to meet the requirements of authorities without the need to construct highly sophisticated and expensive systems.

The Victorian threatened orchid recovery project aimed to restore one of the world’s great temperate terrestrial orchid floras of which over one-half of the 380 are threatened. The project covered 80 species of highly threatened orchids, has protected over 150 populations of 50 threatened orchid species, and has saved four critically endangered orchids from extinction. The project is a partnership of the Department of Sustainability and Environment Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Australasian Native Orchid Society Victorian group, Parks Victoria, Melbourne Zoo, University of Melbourne, Victoria University and RMIT University, backed by a network of over 40 agencies and community groups across Victoria, interstate and overseas. “Saving Victoria’s Threatened Orchids” project is unique in Australia by virtue of the numbers of orchids under protection and organisations contributing to their conservation. The success to date provides a solid foundation to continue the work to achieve protection for all of Victoria’s wild orchids.

Seeds For Life- Seeds For Life In Partnership with Environmental Protection Agency, Qld; Greening Australia Qld; Australian Centre for Minerals Extension and Research; The University of Qld; Griffith University; Brisbane Botanic Gardens; The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; The Millennium Seed Bank Project, QLD

2006 BANKSIA SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

As a leading automotive components manufacturer, Australian Arrow Pty. Ltd. is relentless in its pursuit of the shrinking environmental footprint. It has a fully integrated approach to managing its environmental impact, with the key element being the visualisation of its environmental footprint throughout the workplace. Commitment to the environment is quite obvious to all visitors and employees who visit Australian Arrow’s Carrum Downs manufacturing facility in Melbourne. The message is “loud and clear” – from the initial environmental awareness signage at the driveway entrance and visitors’ parking bays, through to the foyer, the office areas, production and stores areas, culminating with the extensive “Green Wall” and “Recycling Supermarket” , which is used for environmental awareness, induction and training. The Japanese philosophy of a well organised and VISUAL workplace has been a fundamental driver behind the level of environmental awareness at Australian Arrow, harnessed towards environmental management with great success, to create a uniquely environmental visual workplace.

Finalists:

“Hope For The Future” – The Western Australian State Sustainability Strategy WA Government – WA

Photo by https://www.treesforlife.org.au/about/our-achievements/national-awards

2006 BANKSIA COMMUNITY AWARD

The Tree Scheme- Community Based Environmental Initiative, Trees for Life, SA

Trees For Life was formed by a group of concerned volunteers in 1981, with the primary purpose of protecting South Australia’s land from becoming even drier and more eroded through revegetation. In order to persuade landowners to create more tree cover, the Tree Scheme provided seedlings to landholders at below cost. Now in its 25th year, Trees For Life has developed programs in response to community demand and environmental need. Trees For Life has over 10,000 members, of these over 6000 are involved in a volunteer capacity. Some 1250 are volunteer growers, whereas others contribute through bushland management, seed collection, seed packaging, distribution of materials, mail outs and office work. Community driver, non-political and not for profit, Trees For Life is the largest volunteer organisation of its type in Australia. Each year over 1 million seedlings are grown, and to date over 27 million seedlings have been propagated

2006 BANKSIA EDUCATION AWARD

Village Green is a dynamic multi-disciplined consulting house, specialising in sustainable management and change systems for the small business and retail sectors. The first research undertaken by Village Green in 2001 focused on the delivery of waste management services to Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), especially those in retail shopping strips. This research determined the focus of Village Green – the development of a systematic process for conducting business with a quadruple bottom line outcome. That is, taking into account economic, social, cultural and environmental concerns. Village Green is now the leader in its field, educating SMEs to achieve positive environmental and economic outcomes, with a strong community focus along with reducing their environmental impact and associated business running costs.

Finalists:

Flinders Christian Community College and South East Water kick goals in water recycling- South East Water In Partnership with Flinders Christian Community College - VIC

Great Gardens Community Environmental Education Program Landcare Solutions In Partnership with Swan River Trust, Water Corporation, Nursery and Garden Industry Association WA, WA

2006 BANKSIA BUILT ENVIRONMENT AWARD

40 Albert Road is currently Australia’s greenest office building, setting the standards for sustainability in Australian commercial buildings. Szencorp’s property sector sustainability expertise has joined with public and private partners to deliver an outstanding project. High ambitions and attention to detail have resulted in best-practice achievements across water, energy, greenhouse, waste and materials. Szencorp’s commitment to sharing its knowledge has created enormous interest and growth in its business activities and efforts as a sustainability advocate. 40 Albert Road leads the Australian market through renovation of a 20-year-old, low-performing building, setting an example for the vast majority of commercial properties.

Finalists:

Australian Building Greenhouse Rating Scheme NSW Department of Energy Utilities and Sustainability, NSW

2006 BANKSIA MINERALS AWARD

Sustainable Mining at Tiwest Cooljarloo, Tiwest, WA

Tiwest has deployed significant resources to achieve excellent and continually improving environmental performance at Cooljarloo Mine. The sustainable management of clay slimes, the achievement of high quality rehabilitation on constructed landforms, and the management of water abstraction to protect ground-water dependent vegetation are all noteworthy. Tiwest has forged strong partnerships with key stakeholders to secure enduring regional benefits including an 11 year partnership with the Billinue Aboriginal Corporation who provide local provenance seed for mine-site rehabilitation. Tiwest has also supported the CALM Western Shield fox baiting programme for the past 6 years enabling the release of locally extinct Woylies, Tammar Wallabies and Quenda into nearby Nambung National Park. The Nightstalk Marsupial spotlighting programme with the Perth Zoo has engaged the local community and workforce in fauna conservation. Partnerships with local schools have provided environmental education to children and eliminated historical regional legacies such un-rehabilitated Shire borrow pits.

2006 BANKSIA MEDIA AWARD

Climate Change: Icons Under Threat was a ground-breaking five-part series featured in The Age on how climate change will threaten Australia’s most treasured natural assets. The series which focussed on the Murray River, Kakadu, the Alps, the Great Barrier Reef and Queensland’s wet tropical rainforests both made global warming’s impact real and presented complex science in an accessible way.